Unit 4 Pre-Production Assignment
1)
The
requirements of Moving Image Production
Financing.
Sourcing financing Is one of
the key important things for the production of a film.
Money for a film comes into
everything for making a film.
You have to pay the cast and
crew for their work, you have to pay for locations also that you may need to
use, you have to pay for studios for certain locations and scenes, you have to
pay for props, costumes, editors and pretty much every other aspect that comes
into a film.
There are two types of
funding that can come into the funding for a film, we have Private funding and
public funding.
Private funding
comes from investors such as production companies or producers.
The way to get private
funding for your movie is to pitch your film to the producer(s)/production
company and give them a reason why they should invest into your movie. This way
they can decide if they think your film is worth investing in and they can see
a potential way for them to gain profit from the box office from the film.
Public Funding.
Public funding is provided
from things such as public funded agencies that can come from things like
Tax’s. A good example of this is the NHS and the National Lottery.
With the National lottery
people invest a certain amount of money to buy a ticket(s) in hopes of winning
the grand total of money that all the people have invested into that lottery.
And with the NHS they are
funded from the publics tax’s so that they can then provide health care to the
public.
Public funding also goes into
places like the BBC Films, Film4/Channel 4 and others.
Upsides to public funding.
With public funding it can be
a very good thing as the funding is always coming in from when people pay their
taxes and other government kind of payments.
Another upside of public
funding is that with certain companies they allow people who are new to the
film making world and struggle for budget apply for help with funding for the
film they’re wanting to make.
Downside to public funding.
Since public funding don’t
generate the largest amount of money since they only take a certain percentage
of taxes like other public funding places like police, NHS ect, they might not
have a large amount of funds to offer the film maker(s)
It also doesn’t offer a
massive amount of exposure for the film compared to private funded films that
are funded by big time production companies like Warner Bros, Universal ect, so
they don’t have as large of a reach than these private funded production
companies.
Upside to private funding.
When it comes to private
funding one of the upsides to the funding they can offer is that they can offer
a higher budget to the film maker(s) and can even help give more exposure for
the film they’re wanting to make. Since they’re a company that has it main
source of funds in and out are from the films they help make/produce they don’t
have to worry about only getting a certain percentage from things like taxes
and other things that could hinder the company.
Downside to private funding.
There are a couple of
downsides when it comes to private funding, one being that if your film
idea/pitch isn’t good enough for the private funding source then they won’t
help you make your film.
Another downside is that the
funding companies involved in helping you make your film will want a certain
percentage of the films earning along with the money they invested also. So if
you’re film doesn’t earn more than the funding put into the film then it’s a
massive flop for the production companies and makers involved and they either
don’t end up getting the money back that they invested into the film or they
don’t get enough profit to make it worth making part 2 for the film and could
even hinder the reputation for the film makers and could cause doubt among the
private funders involved (and possibly other private funders who hear about the
failure) that they might not want to help fund any future films for this
person(s) that made the film.
Timescales
Timescales are possibly one
of the most important things to have/do when it comes to making a film.
You have to plan out the
timings for pretty much everything in your film in order to meet the end of
project date in time and to keep the film creation as smooth and efficient as
possible.
A few examples of why
timescales are important are;
Equipment (Availability)
When it comes to equipment
you need to consider the fact that if you you’re shooting across multiple
locations how long is it going to take you to set up all the equipment needed,
how long you have to use that equipment for before you need to take down the
equipment to then move to a new location if needed. And if you are renting this
equipment out then you need to calculate how long you have to set it up all,
use it and take it down before it needs to be returned or else you could
possibly be fined.
Transport
When it comes to filming, you
may need to travel to multiple locations with a whole crew, make sure everyone
who is needed is there on time to help set up, do the work required and then
pack up and leave in the timescale you have for that certain location. You also
have to give your timescale some wriggle room for if you happen to run into the
problem of someone turning up late, unexpected issues that could rise and for
the actual transport time from point a to point b.
Talent
The talent has a little more
wriggle room to do what is needed in the time required, they have to make sure
they show up on time to start their work, do their work correctly and then leave
for home.
You will need to take into
factor however the talent possibly showing up late, so they may be delays when
getting into costume and possible makeup that needs to be done. You also have
to try and put in some wriggle room for if the talent is struggling with their
lines or some bloopers that may come up.
Crew.
The crew is what can take up
the most of the timescale as they have to show up really early to get
everything setup, like the makeup artists, costume workers, camera workers,
sound operators and pretty much everything else that is needed for the filming
to be done and to make sure the talent is ready to be filmed and then finally
they have to take it all down for the end of the work day or to move locations.
Clearances.
Clearances can become a big
issue and part of the filming process, because if you for example book a studio
out to film some scenes, you have to request that clearance and wait for the
response of either yes or not they can’t have clearance and if you have the
clearance then you have to setup and film then pack everything away in the
timeframe the clearance lasts. If you don’t get the clearance you requested,
then you have to put into factor asking another place for clearance in a
possible different location and go through the whole process again.
Deadline
The deadline is the most
important part, all of the previous timescales have to be completed either
before the deadline or right on the deadline so that everything can keep
running smoothly and you can give the final product out in an orderly fashion
without stress of missing the deadline.
Facilities
Facilities can be a big part
of production for films. Its where you organize everything you need to book out
for when filming starts and links in with Timescales.
If you’re working with a
production company that will give you all the equipment needed for the film to
be completed, then you don’t have to worry as much when it comes to planning
the facilities needed.
But you still need to
organize booking out the equipment if you have different locations that need
filming.
You need to book out the
equipment needed for the filming and organize it all ready for when filming
begins, you also have to book out the any studios or locations you plan on
filming in so that once filming begins everyone knows exactly what will be
being filmed and where. This makes it easier for cast and crew to travel to
these locations on time and to set up and get everything ready for filming.
If careful planning does not
take place, then everyone could run into multiple problems. If you didn’t book
out the equipment or facilities needed in time or carefully then you could run
into problems like filming delay, lack of equipment that could be really
important for when filming starts and other problems such as travel. If you
don’t carefully plan out everything then everything could fall apart and you
will run in to multiple schedule errors for filming.
Locations
The activities that should be
undertaken in pre-production to identify suitable locations are the recce,
health and safety, filming permission for the locations if needed, possible
booking out the area and transport to the location and see if it fits between
the other locations that may needed to be traveled to not long after.
For an effective recce you
need to consider the health and safety for the location to make sure that all
of the cast and crew shall be safe and to put in all the needed precautions for
if a hazard does occur.
Other things you may be
looking for in looking for locations is the travel distance between the
locations, so if you have another location in mind that you’ve set as a 100%
going to film in that location after that scene, you need to look into the
possible travel distance between the two locations so that everyone needed for
the scenes can travel to them in the time needed.
You should also consider the
weather as if you’re wanting to shoot a scene that is set on a dry sunny clear
day then you need to factor in the weather for that location and if it will be
suitable for the scene. As if its then a dark rainy day when you film then you
will either have to change a couple other scenes or completely scrap that scene
for another time and that could disorganize other things in your timescale
plan.
You will also need to factor
in if the location is suitable for any equipment you are wanting/need to bring
for the scene and need to make sure that the area is a safe and good place for
the equipment to be placed.
Problems that an effective
recce avoid. It will avoid any timescale errors, the safety of the cast and
crew, any weather issues that may occur, it will make your production plan more
secure and helps you organize everything else you will need for that
scene/scenes.
Personal
Other important personal that
don’t include the cast and crew for the film are as the following.
Casting director.
A casting director(s) job is
to organize and facilitate the casting of actors for all roles in a film to
pick the perfect actors for the roles needed to be played. This can be either
from watching audition tapes people send in, audition meetings people may
attend or offering the roles to actors who they already think will be the
perfect fit for a role in their film.
Casting director’s work
closely with the directors and producers to understand their requirements,
suggestions and ideal artists for each individual role, as well as arranging
and conducting interviews and auditions with the actors.
Stunt Workers.
A stunt worker’s role is to
perform all of the dangerous and possibly damaging stunts that the actors can’t
do due to risk of injury. They talk closely with the director, actors and other
stunt workers to figure out the best possible way to do the stunts with the
least risk of injury to themselves and others around. Stunt workers can also
consult in films, for example if an actor does his/her own stunts in the films
then a stunt worker will consult with the actor to show/tell the actor the best
way to perform these stunts in a safe manner that would lead to 0 injury or the
least possibility of injury when performing the stunt.
Lawyers
A lawyer can play a very
important part in the making of a film as they consult with the film’s
producers and actors to either help write up a fair contract for an actor so
that they can ensure the actor will do the work that is required of him/her and
also give the actor any conditions they would require to do the job if all
parties agree to so. Lawyers can also help work out any other legal issues that
may arise
Runner
A runner is the most junior
position in any film production department. A runner’s job is to carry out any
tasks and aid to smooth over the running of a film production. This can include
doing anything from setting up locations for shooting, like setting up food for
the actors in between takes, hiring props and transporting equipment and a wide
range of other tasks to make things smoother for completing the film.
Location Manager
The location manager’s job is
to be responsible for researching, identigying and organizing access to sites
for scenes that need shooting. It can be a very demanding role to have and a
Location manager will need to manage cast, crew, stunts, filming and everything
else on that location are all completed within the time and budget constraints
for the scene(s)
Location managers are very
organized and can be good problems solvers when working under high levels of
stress as things can get a bit hectic when you have to complete possibly a lot
of tasks in the short amount of time.
Programmer Researcher
A programmer researcher
provides support to the producers, director and writers by carrying out factual
and picture research to make sure what’s being shown in the film is accurate.
For example, if you are filming a war film, that is all about the tactical and
stealth missions that the characters do, then the programmer researcher’s job is
to make sure that the director and writers understand the way these acts of
stealth are factual and accurate to how they’re actually taken out in real
life. It’s to make sure that when the audience watch the film they won’t be
thinking “that makes no sense, a guy isn’t going to get shot 15 times in the
chest and still be standing, dancing around like a ballerina singing Christmas
songs.”
Programmer researcher’s use
many resources to research for the film. As well as using the internet, film
archives and museum collections to carry out the research, they are also
responsible for gaining copyright clearance for the use of music and literary
material.
Director of Photography
Director of Photography,
otherwise known as cinematographers, director of photography work with film
directors to realise scenes in line with their visions. They have to manage all
the camera and lighting crews on the film set and make sure all the artistic
and technical decisions and review footage in the post-production stage.
They normally have in-depth
knowledge of camera and lighting equipment and what will and won’t work for
certain shoots, an excellent eye for detail and the ability to make reasoned
decisions quickly and both give and take direction fairly.
Additional Materials
Codes of Practice and Regulations
There is a lot of importance
when it comes to extensive health and safety procedures, one of them being huge
legal implications towards any of the crew, production company and other people
who didn’t work correctly on the health and safety. If the correct health and
safety procedures and a member of the cast and crew is injured or killed
because of this, then you are looking at a possibility of being sued millions
and also possibly having to drop the film. Health and safety procedures are
there to keep everyone as safe as possible during the making of the film and in
contracts they can put an agreement between the employer and worker stating the
possible risks to stop further possible legal issues from happening if any.
Another thing that is very
important in codes of practice and regulations is the checking and obtaining
permissions regarding copyrighted material, meaning that you need to make sure
you get the correct permission to use an artist’s song or a product you are
wanting to show in the film. If these permissions aren’t gained correctly from
the artist or company who made the product, then you run a high risk of being
sued for using this artist’s music or company’s product without their
permission.
There is also a very
important role that is played in the making of films by the Trade Unions
involved.
The trade unions job is to
make sure that the employees who are hired to help create this film are being
treated correctly and aren’t getting to many work hours that have short break
times.
If for example an actor is in
the middle of shooting a scene and the proper health and safety hasn’t been
provided and the actor gets injured because of this, that actor can then
contact his/her trade union and look into possible compensation or legal
actions to be taken place.
2)
The
Formats for Pre-Production Process
The Proposal
A
proposal for a film is very important to when you want to find any public or
private funding for your film. The whole purpose of the proposal is to basically
convince someone why they should invest money into the creation of your film.
To give them good reasons as to why it would benefit them also by saying
telling them why the film they will be investing in will gain good profit and
in turn, gain them more money than they invested.
When
giving a good proposal you need to give the basics of your film but giving the
description, runtime, target audience, who your cast will be and everything else
that would make an investor want to help fund your film.
Scripting: Master Scene Script
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